Tribute page for SAAF WWII Beaufighter pilot Ernest Weddell
Thanks to Perry Davies, Ernie's son in law, who made scans of Ernie's log book, photographs and war records and sent it to me. We subsequently decided to construct this web site in remembrance to Ernie's war time service.
Ernest Arthur Weddell joined the SAAF in 1940. He obtained his wings in 1941 Ernest did an instructors course at Kimberley in 1941 and was involved with pilot training until 1943.
Ernest joined No. 16 Squadron in 1944 and flew operations in Italy until the end of the war. 16 Squadron at that time operated with Beaufighters and they flew mainly ground attack missions. Ernest served as a flight commander in the squadron.
The 16 squadron Beaufighters were fitted with high resolution cameras in the nose of the machine and high quality photographs were taken during ops. Many photographs in Ernie's collection are of these photographs.
This is a living web site. Any input and/or participation will be much appreciated regarding additional information, correctness, information from relatives of members who served with Ernest in his squadron, photographs, stories etc. Please e-mail me. Most welcome will be any photographs of No. 16 squadron while Ernest was with them.
If you perhaps have a family member who served as a SAAF fighter pilot during ww2 and you would want to find out more about his war service please contact me, hopefully I can be of some help.
Tinus le Roux
March 2013
Military Service
28/08/1940 C.A.F.R.D
03/01/1941 63 A.S.
29/03/1941 1 A.S.
26/05/1941 21 A.S.
12/09/1941 Obtain wings, promoted to 2 Lt.
22/09/1941 62 A.S.
15/12/1941 6 A.S. Flying Instructor, Potchefstroom
12/03/1942 Promoted to 1st Lt.
18/11/1942 44 A.S. S/P U/T
19/01/1944 42 A.S. S/P duties
23/02/1944 MAFD
30/03/1944 S.B.D.
19/05/1944 No.5 Mets
21/07/1944 SAAF No.16 Squadron (Beaufighters)
26/02/1945 Promoted to Captain
11/05/1945 S.B.D.
20/05/1945 MAFD
07/01/1947 Demobilised
Ernest promoted to captain.
Ernie on an instructors course, Bloemfontein
DOCUMENTARY TV VIDEO: POP TV, Slovenia
During 1994 Denis Oštir of POP TV in Slovenia produced a documentary video using the Beaufighter gun camera photographs of attacks on countryside villages as reference where historians and townspeople were interviewed. The photographs were obtained from this site and with the permission of Perry Davies the program was aired in Slovenia. Perry was also Skype interviewed. Here the documentary (not translated to English)
Ernest as pupil pilot with his wife-to-be : Joan Constance Fieldhouse. They were married for over 60 years until Ernest passed away in 2002
Flying a Hawker Hart variant during training 1940.
Earnie and his Beaufighter navigator Lt de Jager.
A 16 squadron Beaufighter during Dec/Jan 1944/45
Strikes on the stern of the enemy ship "Pluto" fired from Ernie's Beaufighter.
Rockets fired on enemy barracks from Ernie's Beaufighter